Gas meter



Feb. 26, 1935. 1 R, ARMSTRQNG 1,992,280

GAS METER originailed July 17, 1926 5 sneets-sheetl 0 O O O Feb. 26,1935. 1, R, ARMSTRQNG 1,992,280

GAS METER Original Filed July 17, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet- 2 5 Sheets-Sheet3 (J1/wanton J. R. ARMSTRONG GAS METER original Filed July 1m 1925 Feb.r'26, 1935.

Patented Feb. 26, 1935 GAS METER James Armstrong,

Pittsburgh, Pa., assigningA to Pittsburgh Equitable Meter'iCcmpany,Pitts Lburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July17,1926, se'riarNo. 123,119

Renewed Decemberl15, i932 ,l

28 Claims;

Myinvention relates` to improvements in meters, .and more particularlyto a closed-top gas meter comprising two pairs of measuring chambers. i

An objectof the present invention is to provide, in a meter of the typespecied, Ya centrally disposed elongatedcast metal structure formed withports and passages arranged in alinement and adapted to be controlled`by Ya pair of valves operating in ,alinemena whereby a relativelynarrow meter .structure ,of simple Aand eiiicient vconstruction isproduced.

,Otherv ,objects of the present invention are, to provide meterconstruction `including an .elongatedaported cast metal structure incombination with sheet` metal plates and parts iixedly secured `to thecasting and entering intoy the formation of the measuring'chambers of`the meter;

and to provide a construction having, a simple f and efficient valveactuating mechanism; and

new and improved cover supporting means.

the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an application of myinvention: i Y

l isa top View of, ,a meter construction embodying my invention, withthe outer and inner covers removed;

Fig. 2,V averticalsectional view of the meter, the section being takenon line `I-II of Fig. 1, with the covers in place; 1

Fig. 3, a vertical sectional View, the section being taken at rightangles vto fthe section of Fig, Y2, on the line'IIL-III of ,Figure` 1;

Fig. .4, a detailpelspective view, showing in dotted lines two valvesin'alinement and means connecting the valves;

Fig. 5A is a` sectional view partly in `elevation similar to Figure 3with the yactuating mechanism removed for more clearly showing theconstruc-y tion of the measuring chambers of the meter;

Fig. 6, an enlarged `top plan view, particularly showing the valve plateor head `of the meter; and

Fig. 7, a similar View, showing the lbottom of lthe said valve plate orhead.

As illustrated and `as preferredmy improved gas meter includes two pairsof measuring means or mechanisms, each pair having a main and asupplemental chamber, one chamber of each pair being designed to llWhile the other chambers are emptying. A characteristic ,and importantfeature of the present invention is a centrally i disposed elongatedcast metal structure having a series of ports and passages formed`therein constituting a head or valve plate. This plate or structuregenerally is designated .by the numeral 5,; and, as shown, is `formedwith a flanged seat portion 6 which functions as a ,common means adapted`to have attached theretoan inner valve-chamber cover 7, -and ameter-.easing cover or .top 8 the latter Abeing secured .toseat portiong5 6 bv bol-ts, screws or suitable 4fastening means passing'throughholes designated at 34a.

9 designates the inlet passage or nozzle and 10 the koutlet for thegasadmitted to anddischarged from the meter structure, said passageslbeing1o formed the member -5. Located between the said passagesg and 10, thestructure or vhead is formed with .two ,sets of ports designed toVcommunicate with tvvo pairs of measuring zchambers, including vtvv@Vmain or outer Lcharrrbers 112 15 and 13, andtwo supplemental or innerchambers 1-4-and 15.. vA kvpassage l1 6 vforming a communication between-thetwo .sets of ports isalso formedin the structure 5, The ports ofstructure 5 in` communication with the respective main 2O chambers l2andi-13, and'through which ,gas is introduced to said ehambersaredesignated :by the numerals 17 and ,18, and the ports in communicationlvtr-ith the supplemental chambers are portslQ and 20. 21 and ,22designate gas ex- 25 haust` ports.' leading into the passage 1 6.

Secured to a. curved .portion` a of the casting 5 by welding orotherwise, is a cylindrical lmember 23 having .a partition 24, Memberr23with its partition enters into-the formation of `the `s up- 3oplementalmeasuring chambers 14, and 15. Each of these measuring chambersis ofthe same construction `and each comprises a panV vrnyeember '25.anda rflexible diaphragm 2 6 connecting the pan 275` rand :the edge ofthe cylindrical member `23. 35v

Thepan 25 has secured. :thereto in any suitable manner, a diaphragmcarriagel 25a which carries a rook shaftl 2519 in bearings 25e. A flaganni 26a is pvotally secured to the rock shaft 25h at one end, .and atother end is secured to 40 flag rodw39.. :The diaphragm carriage25a, hasan elongated 1U -shaped form with aligned slotted openings 2Gb passingthrough the wings of the U.A A `sL-n'tab'le l.bracket 26e: is secured toparti,- tion 24 and alu-shaped guide rod `27a. has one` 45 end passingthrough the aligned slottedV openings 2Gb. in the diaphragm carriage 25aand Lhas its other T end pivotally-held inthe bracket 26e to guide thediaphragm ,and diaphragm pans lwithout canting the operation of themeter.

'Theicylindrical `member 23, in addition to being lsecured'to thecasting 5,.is alsosecured to sheet .q 17a and 18a.

are welded to the casting 5, and are also welded or brazed to anglemembers 30 disposed at the lower portion of the meterstructure.

31 designate sheet metal members or covers entering into the formationof the main measuring chambers 12 and 13. As illustrated, sheet members31 are bulged outwardly, and are formed with engaging flanges 32, thelatter being adapted to be secured to the plate members 27, or to saidplates and the cast metal member 5.

The valve-chamber cover member Z is secured to the flanged seat portion6 by means of screws,

not shown, adapted to be insertedin the screw` openings 34. Cover '7, inconjunction with the valve plate or casting 5, forms-a valve and gaschamber 35 in open communication with the gas inlet 9 through a port 36.1

The ports above described, positioned in theV casting and leading to andfrom the respective main and supplemental measuring chambers, arecontrolledby pairl of slide valves 37 and 38. These valves are locatedin the valve chamber 35 and Y operate by moving lineally in alinementwith one another, and are designed to be moved by actuating meansincluding the usual flag rods 39 and arms 40 secured to the upper endsof the rods 39. rIhe arms 40 cross each other and have their oppositeends connected by links 41 to a crank shaft 42.` Crank shaft 42 isprovided with a twostep or double-crank structure comprising two oisetcrank arms 43, (see Fig. 4) one arm disposed in a horizontal planehigher than'the plane in which the `other arm is located.

44 designates a registering mechanism designed to be connected with thecrank shaft 42. Crank arms 43 are connected with the respective slidevalves 37 and 38 by connecting members 45 and 46, vas particularly shownby Fig. 4.

` In operation, the gas to be measured enters the passage 9 and passestherefrom into the chamber 35 through opening 36; From the said chamber35, the gas is metered as follows. Gas enters ports 17 and 18 and passesinto the outer measuring chambers 12 and 13 through openings In asimilar manner, gas enters ports 19 and 20, and passes into the innermeasuring chambers 14 and 15 through openings 19a and 20c.

The gas exhausts from the measuring chambers through the valves 37 and38, intov exhaust ports 21 and V22,- ilows through the passage 16 andpasses out of the meter through passage 10.

' The continuous now of gas through the meter produces a'belloWs-actionin the chambers. This lmotion is transmitted through the valves 3'? and38, the crank 42, to the registering mechanism 44.

A tube 39a surrounds eachV of the ilag rods 39 and a packing gland 39hsurrounds each rod 39 and closes the outer end of each tube 39a, andextends upwardly from one of the inner measuring chambers to a chamber8a disposed above the valve-chamber cover 7. It will be noted that theflag rods, as well as the tubes 39a, extend for aportion of theirdistance outside the valve casing. The vpurpose of the surrounding tubes39a is to prevent the escape of gas from the inner measuring chambers.

lThe constructionherein shown and described including the cast metalstructure 5,' enables Vthe 1 pipes leading toand from the' meter to beconnected with a solid structure and one'that' will withstand thebending, twisting and pulling strains to which meters are subjected bythe pipes to which they are connected. The construction further permitsthe said pipes to be connected by the meter structure in a .straightline, thereby eliminating torsional stresses set up therein by expansionor contraction of the pipe line to which to be used in parallel banks,in which case a considerable saving in lateral space is effected.

What I claim is: 1. In a gas meter, gas measuring chambers, an elongatedported structure having two series of alined ports in communication withthe measuring chambers, a pair of valves arranged in alinep ment forcontrolling the alined ports, a valvechamberv cover, and a meter cover,both of said covers being carried byV the elongated structure.

2. In a gas meter, a centrally disposed cast metal ported structure,sheet metal measuring chambers Vconnected therewith, a cover on saidstructure forming a valve chamber, a casing cover, each cover having anoutstanding'flange, and a common means on the cast metal structure forsupporting the flanges of the covers.

3. In a gas meter, .a cast metal ported structure, a chamber above saidported structure, a supplemental measuring chamber below said portedstructure, a valve chamber intermediate the chamber above said portedVstructure and said ported structure, a iiag rod tube extending upwardlyfrom said'supplemental chamber to the chamber abovethe ported structure,and means at the upper end of said tube to cooperate with the tube forpreventing the escape of gas.

4. In a gas rneter, an elongated cast'rnetal ported valve plate having aseries of ports arranged in alignment, two pairs of sheet metalmeasuring chambers xedly secured to the elongated valve ,plate, a valvechamber cover and a casing cover carried by the valve plate, each coverhaving an outstanding flange, said flanges being secured to said platein a common plane.

5. In a gas meter, a centrally disposed cast metal ported structure, twopairs of sheet metal measuring chambers secured to the cast metal portedstructure, a valve chamber cover and a casing cover, said valve chamberand casing covers being carried by said cast metal ported structure, andsecured thereto in a common plane.

6. In a gas meter, gas measuring chambers a centrally disposed castYmetal ported structure having two series of aligned ports in conuranication with the measuring chambers, a pair of valves arranged in alignmentfor controlling the aligned ports, a valve chamber cover and meter coverboth or said covers being carried by the cast metal structure.

'7. In a gas meter, a cast metal ported structure, a chamberabove saidstructure, a supplemental measuring chamber, an intermediate valvechamber, a flag rod'extending upwardly from the supplemental chamber tothe chamber above the ported structure and meanssurrounding said flagrod, for preventing the escape of gases, said means comprising a tubeand packing gland. f v

8. In a gas meter enclosing gas measuring chambers an elongated castmetal structure over the chambers, which structure is formed withaligned ports communicating with said chambers; aligned valvescontrolling said ports; said structure being formed with threadedpassages in alignment with said ports, adapted to detachably receive agas, line; the aligned ports, valves rand passages lyingA substantiallywinthe lOIlStudinal cover supported b y said structure and vdeiiningtherewith a valve chamber; said structure being formed with alignedports in ccmmunicationwith said measuring chambers andthe valve chamber;aligned valves controlling Vsaid ports; said elongated structurecontaining a port in communication with the valve chamber and said inletpassage, and other aligned ports; thefsaid structure being also formedwith a passage in communication with the last named aligned ports andthe outlet passage. c

` f1.0, In a gas meter, gas measuring chambers; an elongated cast metalstructurefdisposed over said chambers and provided with alined ports incommunication therewith; a cover supported by said structure anddefining therewith ,a valve chamber with `which said D Olts are .incommunication;

alined valves in` said valve chamber controlling said ports; a secondcover supported by 'c said structure surrounding said iirst cover inspaced relation thereto; a crank shaft rotatably supported by saidstructure and said iirst cover; operative connections between saidcrankshaft. and

said valves in said valve chamber; ag'rods exporting said cylinder; cplates; the partition; diaphragms and covers pro-r viding innerand outergas measuring chambers;

tending upwardly from said measuring chambers into the space betweensaid covers; andoperative connections in said space between said flagrods and said crank shaft.`

11. lIn a gasmeter, a cylindrical member providedwitha centrallydisposed partition; an elongated cast metal structure supported on saidcylindrical member; plates disposedover said cylindrical member randengaging opposite sides of said structure; diaphragm structures securedto opposite ends of said cylindrical member defining therewith innermeasuring chambers; sheet metal members .secured to'said plates deiiningtherewith and` with said diaphragm structuresouter measuring chambers a`cover lsujviported n said structure defining'therewith a'valve chamber;there being alinedports in said structure communication with saidmeasuring `chambers and said valve chamberrand "alined valves in Vsaidvalve chamber controlling said ports.

12. A gas meter `comprising a pressed steel cylinder'` provided with apartition, diaphragms secured tothe ends of said cylinder; platessupcovers" secured to said a valve plate c z a.s ting` supported abovesaid cylinder and provided with gaspassages in communication with saidinner and outer measuring chambers; valves cooperating with saidpassages adapted to control the flow of gas there through; andmeansconnecting said diaphragms with the valves whereby the movements of thediaphragms.

in response to gas pressures are said valves,

transmitted to 13. A gas meter comprising a pressed steel cylinderprovided with a centrally disposed partition;` diaphragms secured to theends of said cylinder; centrally apertured plates surrounding saidcylinder and providing supporting means therefor; members secured tosaid plates forming covers for said cylinder; said partition anddiaphragms providing a pair of inner gas measuring chambers and saiddiaphragms and members pro- `which engages and is viding a pair o iouter gas measuring chambers;a valve plate casting supported betweensaid plates provided with inlet and outlet gas passages and intermediategas passages certain of which are in communication with said innermeasuring cham- A pressures are transmitted to said valves.`

14. A gaslmeter containing gaameaspfjnlg.

chambers; anv elongated member .dispos'edg 4ver said chambers; saidmember being' formed with aligned ports in communication with saidchambers;A aligned valves controlling said ports;.iia`g rods extendingoutwardly from saidV measuring chambers through said memberadjacentonecnd thereof;` a crank shaft rotatably supported4 by said member; anda iiexible operating connection between said rods, .saidshaft and saidvalves.

15. The combination Vdefined in'claim 14 in which said iiexibleoperating connections comprise intersecting arms having one set of endsthereof secured to saidrods, linkshaving. adjacenty ends pivotally'secured to the opposite endsbf said arms, thef opposite ends ofsaidlinks Dtotally secured to said cranklshafhand connecting. membersoperatively connected with said shaft and said valves. c

16. Ina gas meter, an elongated ported structure; gas measuringchambers. in communication with the ports in said structure; aligned.sliding` valves controlling said ports; a` crank shaftro'-Vf tata-bly'supportedibysaid structure; cfiffsetlfcrank arms carried .by said shaft;links pivotallyconnected at'opposite ends thereof to saidl valves andsaid crank arms; iiag rods projecting upwardly from said measuringchambers throu'gh` `said structure; and iiexible connections between theouter ends of said rods and said crank shaft.

17. The structure defined in claim 16 Vin which.

l said flexible connections comprise vlaterallymovtition; diaphragmssecured to thev ends of saidV member'dening withsaid partition inner;meas-.

Ui'es Chambers: platessurleundiegand Sunroof ingsaid member;cdver'ssecued tdsaidpiats de! ning therewith and with said diaphragmsouter measuring chambers; an elongated cast metal structure providedwith an inner curved seat secured to said member; said structureprovided with alined ports communicating with said chambers; and slidingvalves controlling said ports.

19. `A gas meter comprising gas measuring chambers; an elongatedstructure supported on said chambers and provided with ports incommunication therewith; valves controlling said ports; a coverdetachably secured to said structure and housing said valves; flag rodsprojecting upwardly from said chambers through said structure and saidcover; a crank shaft journaled in said structure and said cover andprojecting out- 4 wardly ofy said cover; connections between saidshaftand said valves within said cover; a second cover detachablysecured to said structure;vand

connections between said rods and said sha-ftY within said second cover.Y 20, A gas meter comprising an elongated ported structure provided withan inner curved seat; a cylindrical pressed steel member engaging andsecured to said seat; plates vsurrounding said member and securedthereto and to said struc-A ture; angle members secured to the innerends of said plates; and covers secured to said plates.

2l. A gas meter comprising a cylinder provid- Y ed with aA centrallydisposed partition; diaphragms secured to the ends of ysaid cylinder;centrally apertured plates surrounding said cyln Y inder and projectinglaterally of the axis thereof and providing supportingmeans for themeter; covers secured to saidplates; a valve plate casting having aninner curved seat supported on and receiving a portion of said cylinderand disposed between said plates; inner and outer covers secured to thetopof said casting; sliding valves p supported on said casting withinsaid inner cover;

. metal ported structure; a plate secured to each side of saidstructure; a cylindrical member below said structure and extendingthrough said plates and covers detachably secured to said plates andenclosing said cylindrical members.

23. In a fluid meter, an open ended hollow cylinder structure havingapartition intermediate the ends thereof to form adjacent fluidmeasuring chambers, plate members having holes formed therein throughwhich project the open ends of said cylinder and to which said cylinderis secured, diaphragme closing the cylinder' ends, a ported structureinterposed between said plate members to which saidplate members aresecured, and covers secured to said plate members to form main measuringchambers.

24. In a iiuid meter, an open ended hollow cylinder structure having apartition intermediate the ends thereof to form adjacent gas measuringchambers, plate members secured to said cylinder having holes formedinalignment with said cylinder, diaphragms closing the cylinder ends, aported structure interposed between Ysaid plate members to which saidplate members are secured',

auxiliary supporting means secured to said plate members, and coverssecured to said plate members to form main measuring chambers.

25. A fluid meter comprising a pair of adjacent open ended measuringchambers having a common partition wall, diaphragm members across theopen ends of the measuring chambers, anges extending from the peripheryof the measuring chambers Vand welded thereto, aported structureindependent of and secured between said flanges and having ports incommunication with `said measuring chambers, and covers secured to saidanges to form additional measuring chambers.

26. ln a fluid meter, gas measuring chambers, a ported structure havinginlet and outlet passages substantially longitudinally aligned andadapted to be connected to a pipe line and forming a continuationthereof, said structure having valve ports communicating with saidgas'measuring chambers, said valve ports'being substantially inalignment longitudinal with said inlet and outlet passages andlongitudinally aligned reciprocating valves Vassociated with said valveports and arranged to reciprocate substantially in the line ofalignment. l

27. A gas meter comprising a cylinder provided with a centrally disposedpartition; centrally apertured plates surrounding said cylinder andprojecting laterally of the axis thereof; an elongated ported valve bodycasting'secured between said plates; covers secured to said plates; nagrods extending from said kdiaphragme into said valve body at one endthereof; connecting links secured to saidfia-g rods and to a centralcrank member; slide valves longitudinally aligned in said ported body;connecting links between said crank and slide valves; said portedstructure hav.- ing inlet and outlet passages substantiallylongi-Vtudinally aligned and adapted to be connected to a pipe line and form acontinuation thereof, and longitudinally aligned with said slide valves.

28. A gas meter comprising a cylindrical member having outwardlyextending ends and provided with a partition, diaphragms secured to saidextended ends; plates supporting said cylindrical member; covers securedto said plates; said partition, diaphragms and covers providing aplurality of measuringV chambers; an elongated member disposed betweensaid plates above said cylindrical member and provided with gas passagesand Y ports in communication with said measuring chambers, valvescarried by said elongated member and means operatively connecting saidvalves, with said diaphragms controlling the now of gas into saidmeasuring chambers.

JAMES R. ARMSTRONG.

